"American Medical Association guidelines bar doctors from taking part, directly or indirectly, in executions. And Kentucky requires doctors to follow AMA ethical guidelines," the Associated Press reported today.

Arthur Zitrin, an 86-year-old retired shrink in New York City who is vehemently anti-choice on the death penalty no matter how heinous the crime, huffed, "I think it's a clear violation."

Fletcher's executive counsel, John Roach, said: "By signing a death warrant, in no way is Gov. Ernie Fletcher participating in the conduct of an execution. Gov. Fletcher's role under the law is consistent with the roles of judges fulfilling their legal duty and jurors fulfilling their legal obligations regardless of their professions."

Wanna know why Democrats keep losing elections? Kentucky state Rep. Jim Wayne offered an excellent example by launching this attack on Fletcher: "It's curious he will keep his no-new-taxes pledge but will violate his Hippocratic oath. I'm not sure how he sleeps at night with this kind of decision."

AMA says doctors may not take any "action which would directly cause the death of the condemned" or "which would assist, supervise or contribute" to the death of a murderer.

Yes, this is the same AMA that has helped Democrats try to undermine the Second Amendment.

And what do AMA's "ethical guidelines" have to say about partial-birth abortion and other forms of infanticide?

A group of doctors that opposes the Republican governor has sought an opinion from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, which is not scheduled to consider the matter this year. Double murderer Thomas Clyde Bowling is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Nov. 30.

We suggest Kentucky and other states dump any association with AMA and consult with the far more sensible Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

Editor's note: